Wortham: Powersports Honda preview

After sparkling coming-out party, Tomac leads GEICO Powersports team
into Texas
WORTHAM, Texas (June 3) -- Motocross insiders have known for quite a
while that Eli Tomac of the vaunted GEICO Powersports Honda team was
going to be special. Two ...

WORTHAM, Texas (June 3) -- Motocross insiders have known for quite a
while that Eli Tomac of the vaunted GEICO Powersports Honda team was
going to be special. Two weeks ago, the rest of the world found out as
well when Tomac became the first rider in motocross history to win in
his professional debut.

With no more question marks surrounding his ability to compete at
the top level of the sport, Tomac arrives in central Texas for this
Saturday's fourth annual Flagstar Bank Freestone National as the current
points leader in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship and one of the
favorites to take the race title.

"I had months to get ready for Hangtown while most of the other guys
were just coming off a really tough Supercross season so I don't want
to go too crazy," said Tomac, the overall winner at the season-opening
race a fortnight ago in Hangtown after posting a win and a third-place
result in the two 250cc motos. "Now, everyone has now had a week off
and the same amount of time to rest up and get ready for this race so
the competition will be much tougher, but I definitely feel ready to go
again.

"I really wasn't that nervous being a rookie. I was just pumped. I would
say I always get more excited than nervous before races. There were some
nerves, but not enough to hurt my riding. I feel the same way going into
Texas."

An Oklahoma native, Canard enters the event just nine points behind
Tomac in third place. He rode extremely well at Hangtown, finishing
second and seventh in the two 250cc races. Last year at Freestone he
found the podium in both motos and was third overall. A two-time winner
in this year's Supercross action, Canard has yet to win a Motocross race
at the professional level.

"I'm a calculating racer so sometimes it's difficult for me to let it
all hang out like you need to do in these outdoor races so I've been
working on that since the last race," Canard said. "I've worked on my
overall intensity and hopefully that will translate to better racing.
It's Texas so it's gonna be hot, which makes it more challenging, but
I'm ready."

Metcalfe moved to the 450cc class for this year's Motocross Series and
had a strong showing in Hangtown. The affable Australian stayed in the
front pack in both motos and left town in fourth place.

"I've been feeling really good on the 450 and I enjoy riding it,"
Metcalfe said. "We're going into Texas with the intention of improving
what we did in Hangtown. My starts weren't what they needed to be if I
want to reach the podium so that's been my focus in training."

Perhaps the hungriest rider on the team is Barcia, who isn't very
pleased with his fifth-place ranking, which came on the heels of a
less-than-perfect start in Sacramento.

Wharton is hoping for a rebound race after falling out of contention
in Hangtown due to an accident. Racing in his home state with a huge
crowd of supporters would seem to be the perfect remedy for the talented
rider.